Windows, Microsoft’s flagship product and one of the world’s most popular operating systems, has an expiration date. Discover how easy it is to migrate from Windows to a different operating system before a major failure ruins your work!
By the policy of an established life cycle, many Windows products have a fixed support scheme. Main support is available for at least five years after the product’s premiere. Some Windows OS versions may also get a limited period of extended support. Well-known versions of Microsoft-branded operating systems, such as XP, 7, or Windows CE on embedded devices, no longer have active technical support. Nevertheless, many entrepreneurs continue to use these solutions, saying they work flawlessly.
This practice is dangerous because, in case of serious problems with the functioning of your OS, you have limited options for getting help in restoring proper operation. Your infrastructure is also more exposed to hacking attacks, as security updates for outdated systems are no longer released.
Are you postponing the migration to a new operating system because you think it’s a labor-intensive and time-consuming procedure? Check out how to minimize the effort of switching from outdated software to one with up-to-date support.
The first solution is to migrate to a newer version of Windows. This way, you won’t feel much difference in the use of your infrastructure. However, you need to keep in mind that despite the same producer, the code of outdated versions and newer ones may be only a dozen percent compatible. New versions of Windows also have a limited support period, so you have to remember that you’ll be facing another migration in a few years or so.
Another solution is to migrate to a different operating system. Users of outdated embedded software often decide to make the Windows CE to Android migration due to better performance and significant savings. In this case, you also face code customization, but the usability of your solution increases with the migration.
You can also opt for the support of migration assistants such as Xamarin, Qt, or Mono, which allows you to perform the transformation without rebuilding the system. However, these are temporary solutions, as they degrade your solution’s performance.
Using an operating system whose technical support expired several years ago is like gambling on the lottery. You don’t know when an unpleasant situation or a hacking attack will happen to you, forcing downtime in your business and causing serious financial losses. Therefore, plan today to migrate from Windows to an up-to-date operating system from the same or a different vendor, or take advantage of .NET development services that will facilitate the technological transformation of your key business solutions. Start today and avoid problems that may appear tomorrow!